Planning & Zoning Commission Moves Zoning Line for Gottier Property

The Planning & Zoning Commission made another small step in the development process of the on the Gottier property, positioned along Anthony Road and Route 195, at Monday night’s meeting. 

The commission approved a re-zoning of 2.35 acres on the property from a neighborhood commercial zone to a residential design district. The small parcel that was converted is separated from the rest of the commercial zone section of the property by wetlands. The board deemed it more rational to include the land with the residential design district area, as opposed to the commercial side, which does not allow multifamily homes.

Attorney Leonard Jacobs, who spoke for landowners Arthur and Judy Gottier, said that the change will also allow the developers to lay out the proposed 87 units a bit differently, which the commission supported.

“I like the idea of giving them more flexibility with the arrangements,” said commission member John Hughes.

Residents from the area surrounding the proposed development attended the meeting and voiced concerns about a possible increase in traffic issues, which were partially addressed by a traffic engineer consultant. However, chairman Michael Cardin reassured residents that the night’s meeting was only a discussion of the zone redistricting, and that many more public hearings on the development would be held as the project moves into the later stages. The development is currently in the planning and conceptual stages.

The commission also set a public hearing on a proposal allowing multifamily homes in neighborhood commercial zones and set a workshop for discussion on changes to the Technology Zone regulations on October 17.

The Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet next on October 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers of the Hicks Memorial Municipal Building.